Candlelight Vigil in Saxton PA

   There is a legend in Saxton PA of a young girl that killed in October of 1986. Different versions of the legend exist. One version states the girl was murdered. The girl's family being poor, they had to bury her on the outlying tree line. Another version states she was sacrificed by an occult organization and buried along the outside of the cemetery. This legend provoked a better investigation for myself. Surprisingly, I did witness some truth to this legend. However, I'll leave you to make your own conclusions about the legend.
      Upon hearing the rumors and gathering information about this legend, true to the date, a few friends and myself arrived at the cemetery around 9pm. We walked the loop around the cemetery a few times to get our bearings, then found a place to observe the cemetery in its entirety. Around 10:30, we saw a few flickers of light in the opposite end of the cemetery. We carefully walked closer to where we saw the lights, walked around a mound of dirt, likely left from the remains of graves. Around the mound, astonished, we watched eight individuals in dark clothing conversing. Being at a safe distance, we could not make out what they were speaking about. They seemed to be fiddling with something and using their flashlights. Thirty minutes had passed, and then they started to move. They lined up in a straight line, lighting candles and progressed towards a part of the wood line. We watched in amazement as the legend was being revealed before our eyes. After another thirty minutes, their candles were blown out and then they dispersed into the woods. We stayed back for some time talking about what we had just seen. We sat and watched to make sure that they had left. We then proceeded to investigate the scene. Red candle wax lay in a circle around a lone stone. The stone looked to be carved, but without any writing. Only a lone candle half used stood upon the stone. With closer investigation, all around the area, older and dirty wax was found. This lead to a belief the event or vigil had happened before.
     To this day no new information was able to be found about this strange occurrence. Obituary records do show that a woman had died in the fall of 1986. But no other information as to the death or exact date was able to be obtained. I tried to interview locals with out any luck. Some people didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about. Although, others seemed to be aware of the mysterious happenings of Grandview Cemetery but had nothing to comment.

A Forgotten Orchard

Stone Plaque at the Entrance

      A short drive on Locke Mountain Road leaving Frankstown PA, there are two curious stone pillars that read “The Orchards, Lynn A Brua, 1872”. These pillars are one of the last remains of a once thriving orchard owned and built by Lynn Brua.
      Lynn Brua was most notably known for his involvement in Hollidaysburg PA. In 1873, he moved his family to Hollidaysburg from his orchard.  He was then employed by John H. Law. In 1881, he opened his own general store and continued to prosper, building some twenty houses as well as his own on Wayne Street. Brua was also a founding organizer for the Citizen’s National Bank, where he served as president from its organization until 1903. He then sold his business in 1908, and continued to manage his farm. He never sold his farm in Frankstown Township, and it was inherited to his grandson, the last known owner, John Brua.
                The Lynn A. Brua estate was burnt down in the mid-1900’s without any published explanation. The old estate is now blocked by a huge mound of dirt between the pillars of what must have been an elegant entrance at its time. Walking down the old stone driveway you first notice a long row of pine trees and the ground littered with pine needles. Approximately 500 feet further from

One building's foundation

the entrance, the remains of the mansion and outlying buildings become visible. The first thing you come to is an old fallen chimney. The foundation to what was once the old estate's spring house lies a few steps away. Deeper into the old estate the foliage becomes denser. This is where the foundation of the mansion Brua built remains; now only a six foot deep square of stone. A half mile from the road behind this foundation is the actually orchard. Some fruit trees and foreign foliage to the area still remains on the old 150 acre farm.
      Rumors and stories circulate the area of what actually happened to the prospering farm. Tales of hauntings and gypsy curses are to name a couple. However, many believe the fire was only an accident. Locals also speak of a family cemetery plot, a common thing in those times, somewhere buried in the overgrowth. The cemetery has yet to be found.

Crumbling chimney

Front gate visible from the road

Peace Chapel

     

      While searching Huntingdon county for a few small attractions, a place called Peace Chapel caught my attention. Peace chapel is a small site in the hills outside of Juniata College. The landscape was designed in 1988 by Maya Lin, who is better known to have designed the Vietnam Veterans

Trail Leading to Main Site

Memorial in Washington D.C. The site is made up of two different structures. The first is a 40-foot circle consisting of granite blocks with a hollowed out center, which resembles a very large fire pit. On an adjacent hill, a large granite disk overlooks the first structure.

      Peace chapel was remarkably easy to access, considering how it eluded my attention for years. A simple entry into my GPS brought me to a little gravel parking lot with a sign welcoming me. After a short walk up the lone trail, I arrived to my destination. A wonderful view of the countryside could be seen in this 360 degree vista. Besides a few hikers and dog walkers, as you may have guessed the site was rather peaceful. I hope to return in the autumn to take in all of the promising beauty Peace Chapel has to offer.

Stone at the Beginning of the Trail

The House on the Hill

The House before the fire

      Outside of the small town of Williamsburg Pennsylvania there sits a farm and the remains of the former house. Mystery about the original owners has surrounded the property for decades along with unexplainable events. Local residents have handed down stories for generations, but shed little light on its dark history. At first sight, the property does not look any different from any other small farm in rural Pennsylvania. However, the property's docile exterior does little to harbor its restless past.

      On a summer's day in the mid to late 1800's, a family of immigrants moved to the rural area outside of Williamsburg, PA. They built a house, farm, and a few outlying buildings. A few years had passed, then one day a neighbor had noticed the property being neglected. The neighbor soon found out that the family had not been to church the following week either. The neighbor along with a few others went to check on the family and noticed the door unlocked. With no response to the knocking, they began to shout into the house. Finally they decided to walk into the house. Turning the corner from the kitchen into the living room, they came across a gruesome sight and foul smell. The Husband and wife along with their children had all been murdered. They described the family as being ripped and torn. The local people gathered up the remains and buried what was left of the bodies in a plot not far from the house. No evidence was found to solve the horrible crime. With no signs of forced entry or even foot prints, the murder remains a mystery to this day.

One of the Murals

      Since the incident, many reports of paranormal activity have circulated. The property has had many owners and families through the years; often only living there for a few months. The property usually remains vacant until an unsuspecting family from out of the area moves in. Reports range from windows and doors being opened and closed to furniture being rearranged. Two murals of Jesus mark the walls of the living room, which some believe to ward off the evil the lingers in the house. One room in the second floor tends to make a person feel squeezed from all directions. Even with all the activity inside the house, some believe the true evil lies outside. A red demon has been seen running out front of the house along the cornfields that border the property. Grim faces have appeared in the windows. Whispers and the sounds of foot steps from behind in gravel have also been witnessed On occasion dark shadows can also be seen running up and down the lane. 

Front Entrance

    The farm and outlying buildings still remain on the property. The house was burned down as a "test" fire for new firefighters to practice on in 2011. Some people believe the claim of a test was just used to get rid of the horrible building. However, even with the building gone, the property is still claimed to be just as restless.

Inside the house bathroom

The Haunt at the Paper Mill Bridge

      I would like to start with a little handed down history of this place. The town of Roaring Spring has had tales of "witch craft" and the occasional haunting for years told by residents. One tale tells of a witch coven that used to meet in the woods off the railroad tracks leading out-of-town. Another tells of a "Devil worshiping pastor" that killed a young woman and buried her body in the yard outside his home near the paper mill. The most well-known story is that of the old paper mill bridge that lies under the railroad tracks and is near the site where the young women was supposedly buried. 
     The legend of this place states a ghost of a man can be seen hanging from the bridge or tress surrounding the area. Another tale tells of a young couple being hit by a train and now they walk eternity together over the bridge. Curious readers beware that the ghosts have also been said to hit and strike at anyone who dares to get to close.
      I could not find any hard evidence for theses claims. However, real or not, every town deserves to have it's mysteries or urban legends.